Art of gracking hydrocarbons



Dec. 1s 14925'. 1,565,326

F. G. NIECE ART OF CRACKING HYDROCARBOS Filed July v, 1921 P4 *seed Dec.15, H525.'

1,565,321; PATENT orrics.

- UNITED "STATES ,f i v l IBED G NIECE, or CLEVELAND, omo, Assionon ToTHE :NTERNATIONAL HeLnING 'conPANY, or CLEVELAND, oHIo, A c oRreRA'rIoN'or eHIo.

i ART OF GRACKING HYDROCARBONS.

Application lcd July 7,

' carbons, of which the following is a specitication. n

This invention relates to improvements 1n the art of crackinghydrocarbons.

The primary object of this invention 1s :o subject hydrocarbon oilheavier than gasoline to suoli improved and novel treatment as toproduce gasoline of better quality and 1n larger quantity per measureIof heavier oil.

Another object is'to obtain a remarkably high percentage of saturatedhydrocarbons,

after having properly started the operation of the apparatus employed inpractising my improved process, without resorting to a. hydrogen-supplysource external to the liquid hydrocarbon to be crackedvduring saidoperation.

A notlier object is not only .to subject liquid hydrocarbon heavier thangasoline to the heat of and within a molten body composed of low-meltingmetalor material such, for instance, as lead heated to and notvaporizable at the 'required hydrocarbon-cracking' temperature, buttosubject vapors Aandgases issuing from heated liquid hydrocarbon to theheat ol and within said molten body in a closed chamber having avapor-outlet, and, while said gases andivapors are being subjected tothe heat of and within said molten body, to effect the subjection, tothe heat ol and within said molten body, of hydrocarbon vapors andfrases which have passed unconglensed -throng i. a condenser of thesystem comprising the aforesaid apparatus, after having been subjectedto the aforesaid temperature, and furthermore to so extensively andthoroughly dissociate the atomic constituents of molecules of said gasesand vapors from the condenser and in'such intimate association with thecrackin of the first-mentioned vapors and gases Within the molten bodythat much needed free hydrogen is economically. and plentifullyproduced.

Another object is to cause hydrocarbon gases and vapors from thecondenser, and the liquid hydrocarbon to be cracked, to be forced ,under'a desirable pressure into and to ascend within 'said molten body, andto` 1921. Serial No. 482,964.

avea-ene corr maintain said vapors` and gases from the' condenser, gasesand vapors issuing from heated liquid hydrocarbon to be cracked, and'vapors and gases formed during' the subjection ol' hydrocarbons to theheat of and within said molten body, in highly intimate oi; closeassociation during said subjection of said l'iydrocarbons to the heat ofand l within said molten body.

With these `objects in View, and to attain any other object hereinafterappearing, this invention consists in the novel steps orprochereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.- v

Novel and improved apparatus, suitable for use in practising saidprocess and claimed in a separate application, Serial Number 484,293,for United States Letters Patent, is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure l is a side elevation, largely in section andpartly diagrammatic.l Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along theline 2-2 in Fig. l, looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectiontaken along the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, looking upwardly.

Referring to said drawings,l 5 indicates the casing of a heating furnaceshown as comprising an oil-burner (i arranged as required to have theflame or lire 7 issuing therefrom, during the operation oli the furnace,enter the combustion and heatingI chamber 8 through an aperture 9 in thefurnace-front. The forward tends rearwar y from and above the aperture9, andthe rear portion ot' said chamloer extends farther upwardly, as at10, and

Surrounded by the portion l() of said 'loV (portion of said chamber eX-chan'iber is a hydrocarlion-cracking receptacle shown consisting of abase 15, a top section 16 and an intermediate'section 1.7. The base 15is secured in place in any approved manner, and the top section lt'isarranged above' and yexternally ol. the furmice-casing 5. Theintermediate section i7 is formed by a Vertical tube which 4is circularin cross-section and exends between the base l5 and the top section 16.Said tube i'nay'have any suitable dimensions such, for instance, as adiameter of l'rom t'cn to twelve inches and a height ol from eight totwelve feet. Said tube forinsthe surrounding wall of the main portion ofthe hydrocarbon-cracking Chamber, and the' base 15 has cavity 18 whichforms the .lower end of said chamber. The tube 17 connnunicates at itsupper end with the chamber '15) termed interiorly of the top section 1Gand :forming the upper end portion oi the hydrocarbon-craclung chainher.Prei'exahl)v adjacent ci tls of the' base 15 and tube 17 are weldedtogether, and adjacent ends ot the top section 1li and tube 17 haveexternal flanges 2() removably secured together, as at :'21, by boltsand nuts. The chamber 1f) ot the top section is closed at its upper endby a head removably secured to the body ot' said section 'by bolts andnuts, as at 2?. Preferably the chainber 19 measures in diameter at itslower end substantially the same as the internal dia ineter of the tube1T. and is diainetricallyr larger above its lower end portion. An ont-Wardl)Y and downwardly extending pipe i5,

. having a normally closed valve QG, con ununicates 'ith the chamber 19at the lower end portion ot said chamber.

Within and centrally ot the lower end portion ol' the hereinbelore`mentioned hydrocarbon-craching chamber is a bell-shaped baille-memberQ7 ot' steel. Said baille-ineinber is rigid with an upright tubularniember 28 which has its upper portion arranged internally and centrallyof said baille-niemher and is threaded at its lower end into the base15. IThe tubular member 2Q discharges into the upper portion oli thechamber 29V formed interior-ly oi1 said baille-member, and communicateswith a bore o() formed in 'the base 15.

A pipe -ll for conducting' tual oil, or other liquid hydrocarbon to becracked, extends 'f1-oi;n above and into the portion 10 ot' the hearing; chamber to the base 15 to which -said pipe is secured. Said pipeS31 discharges through the bore 30 into the tubular meinher 28, The pipe31 is shown covered, from the base 15 to a point near the upper end otthe portion l1() ot the heating chamber, with heat-resistihpr materialsuch, tor instance, as asbestos 32, and saidpipe therefore has uncoveredthe upper end of its portion which extends through said chamber, so thatthe liquid hydrocarbon is preparatdrilliv heated but not overheatedwhile being fed by said pipe. A diagraninuitically illustrated oil* pump33,.l arrane'ed externally of the 'furnace, is interposel between thepipe 31 and a pipe 34 for supplying liquid hvdrocarbon to ie Cracked.Said pump is en'iployed'in forc- 'infr li uid hvdroearlnin from theoil-su i )l e l ll .l

pipe 84C into the pipe 31 which has a diagrammatically illustratedcheck-valve @lo for prevent-ing reflux ot oil in said pipe.

A vapor-conducting pipe 5:56, Formingl the Vapor-outlet of' thelnaeinbelore, mentioned hydrocarboncracking receptacle, con'nnuni- Gateswith the diainetrioally larger portion of the chamber 19 in the section16 of said been condensed intheir passage through the' l condenser. A;pipe e0, having a normally closed valve 41, is arranged to conduct gasesand vapors l'troni the upper end of the receiver 39, and adiagrannna'tieallyv illustrated gaspunip 43 is interposed .between thepipe 410 and a pipe 411 and employed in forcing gases and vapors intothe pipe se A pipe 45, employed in suiliplying external hydrocarbon gasWheat* from the pipe 40.

desired and havingl a nornfialljyr closed valve 16, coinniunicates withthepipe *l0 at a point between the valve 41 and the gas-pump 43.

'lhe receiver 39 is provided with a drain--` pipe 4T having a normallyclosed valve 48. The receiver 39 is provided at its upper end with apipe` 49 having a normally closed valve 5() and employed, whendesired,in permittingthe escape of spent or surplus gases troni thereceiver. ylhe head L2 ol the top section 16 ot the hydrocarbon-erackingreceptaf le is provided centrally with a chamber 51, and the pipe tecomprises a short pipe-section 52 dischartfring` into said chainv berand connected by a union or coupling 53 with. the remainder of saidpipe. Three sul'rstantially corresponding pipes aies@- cured. in any`approved manner, to the hot tomof the chamber-51 and spaced circunivtere'ntially ot` the central. portion ot said bottoni, as shown in Fig.2. and communicatef'at their upper ends with said chamber and thereforeare in connnunication with the pipe The pipes 55 extend downwardly fromthe chamber 51 into the lower portion ot the hydrocarbon-crackingchai-.il ier. lower end portions ot the pipes 5h intend through andbelow a .circular perlorated steel baille-plate 5G arrangedsubstantiall);Y lioriz/.ontally over and near but spaced Afrom thebell-shaped ballle-memberQ. 'lhe'balllevplate 5G is central in relationto and spaced i in the main troni the surroumling` wall ot' thelxydrocarbon-craclcing chamber and Fig. S) has several lugs 5T spacedeircu1n- `l'erentiall.)Y of said plate and arranged to co operaie withsaid wall in proventinel horizontal displacement oi'Y said plate. `y'The balle-ineniber 2T is shown smaller diametrically thanthebaille-plate 5G.. 'l'he baille? plate 5G has a central hole orpassage 58 extending vertically through the plate 'and also has severalholes lor passages a@ -Forinvd .in

lll)

The

illu

' pipes 55 have their lower and discharging ends arranged under thebaiilc-plate 56 and over the bell-shaped baiile-member-Q'? and bent, asat 60, inwardl and toward a point which is below;r said pipes butcentral over said baille-member. Obviously the battleplate 56 connectstogether andbraces apart the lowerend portions of the pipes 55, and);

said pipes are similarly connectedftogether and braced apart4 in theupper end# portion of the tube 17 by a perforated battle-plate 61,andare furthermore connected together and braced apart at a pointcentrally between the battle-plates 56 and 61 .by an intrn'iediateperforated l'ialile-plate 62. The baffle-plates 61 and 62 are thereforerigid with the pipes and said plates substantially,correspond indimensions, contour and construction, or

characteristics, with the lower baliie-plate 56.

The joints between component parts of the apparatus are renderedfluid-tight and furthermore forined in suche manner as to withstand heatand strains to which said parts may be subjected, but means for formingsuch joints are too Wellknown to require description and illustration inthis specication. Also, in making said component parts,

Y such 'metal or material as will withstand the heat and Wear and tearto which said parts may be subjected is employed.

The hereinbefore mentioned hydrocarboncracking chamber is supplied witha lowmelting metalor material such, for instance. as lead which isreadily penetrable, in a molten condition, by hydrocarbon fluids andmeltable at a temperature ot about three hundred and thirty degreescentrigrade and therefore at a temperature lower than the hereinafterspecified liydrocarbon-cracking temperature lrequired to' be establishedand maintained in said chamber duringr the operation ot'the system butis not yaporizable at said hydrocarbonfcracking temperature. (3f)indicates a molten column or body resulting' from the melting of a massof small pieces oi solid lead supplied' to the hydrocarboncrackingreceptacle preferably preparatoryto the application oi. the head 22 ofsaid ref ceptacle. In applyingr said head 22 the pipes e and connectedbalile-plates 56, 61 and G2 are lowered into the tube 17, andconsequently intothe molten body 63. Said head '22, upon being securedin place, closes the u per end. of the hydrocarbon-cracking c iamber,and preferably such a quantity of low-melting metal is introduced intosaid chamber that, during the subjection of hy droearbons to the heatof' and within the incitenlbody 63, the surface of said molten body isbelow the upper extremity of thev tube 17 and abovey the upperbaille-plate (3l so that all of the bzvdilc-platts are' arranged in andtransversely ol the molten body. The hereinbefore mentioned furnace isoperated as required toheat the hydrocarbon-craclring chamber andcontents to and maintain them at a hydrocarbon-craehimi temperaturevarying from about i'our hundred to about seven hundred and -lif i'degrees centigrade accordingr to the nature oi'ithe liquid hydror carbonto be treated, and the n'iolten body (53 is therefore maintained at saidtemperature duringr the opera] ion of the system. `Said operation ispreferably started by openingl the valve 46, while the valve 41 remainsclosed. and operating' the oil-pump 33 and gas-punip 4 2, to forcehydrocarbon ,das from the pipe 45 to' the pipe 44 and thence through thechamber 51 and pipes 55 into the lower portion of the molten body 63.and to force liquid hydrocarbon from the pipe 34 to the pipe 3l andthrough the chamber 29 in the battlemember 27 into the lower portion ofsaid molten body. until the development. on.' the molten body, -ot' adesired ,eas pressure preferably considerably greater. persquare inch.thanthe pressure exerted at the base of and-by the molten body per se.Hydrocarbon gas pumped from the pipe 45 is .not essential, because bothyalves41 and'46 may be kept closed whilel pumpimgr liquid hydrocarboninto the molten body`-63 so as' to permit establishing a desired gaspressure by the' gases resulting:V from the heating of liquidhydrocarbon in the inner chamber 29 and in the molten body. Were a gaspres'- sure of one hundred and titty pounds per square inch on themolten body GS to be established.' then as soon as such-iu'essure hasdeveloped in the systeu'i the valve 46 is closed, if not already closed.and the valve 4.1 opened andA lett open. for establishing a continuouscirculation ot hydrocarbon fluids in the system. lVith a ,das pressureof one 'hundred and fifty pounds per square inch on the molten body G3,and with the exertiony by said molten body perse at its base ot apressure of forty pounds per square inch, the oil-pump 35i is operatedas required to effect the delivery ot' liquid hydrocarbon supplied bythepipe 34 preferably under a pressure of about, one hundred and ninetypounds per square inch, and the fas-pump 43 is operatedvas required totorce hydrocarbon gases and uncondensed vapors sup' plied through thereceiver .39 from the conA denser into the molten body, and therefore anadequate continuous delivery.' into the molten body, of ,frases anduneondensed vapors from the condenser and of liquid hi'- drocarbon fromthe pipe 31 is insured. That is, during! the operation oi" the systemliquid hydrocarbon is continuously forced from the pipe 34C to the innerchamber 29 land thence downwardly through said inner' chamber into thelou'eiI portion ot' 'the molten body, and while liquid hydrocarbon isbeing forced Yfrom said inner chamber into said portion ot" the moltenbody,

condenser are Continuously ilorced into said molten body, and vapors and,frases '(incl'uclina gasoline vapors) continnouslv ascend to thesurface ot said molten body and thence to the pipe 36 and are conducted.bv said pipe into the worin orf the condenser. Distillateor liquidresultingA 'from condensation ot' vapors in the condenser and enteringfthe receiver 3f) is periodically drained through the pipe 47. Gases anduneondcnsed apors dischargedl into said refeiscr 'from the con? denserare. by and during the operation ot tlie`-\gaspiiinp Llil. supplied tothe nine lll andv thence forced into and through the chamber 5l andconnected pipes .'15 into the lower portion of the molten bodv (i3. y

The liquid hyd rocarbon to berraelicrhbeing heated in the pipe Ill wherethe lattercxtends through the portion ot the turniere,

is obviously discharged, in a heated condition, into`the inner chamber2li, and, as said inner chamber is covered and surrounded by the moltenbody 63, the already heated liquid hydrocarbon is still furtherpreparatorily heated vinternally ot said inner chamber by heattransmitted through the Walls ot Said inner chamber from said moltenbody and to such anl extent that the hot the molten l(iti liquidhydrocarbon, when itpasses `from Within said inner chamber into themolten :,liody, has been heated substantially to or somewhat above themelting point ot the lead or material composing the molten body,

so that said liquid hydrocarbon is in a desirable condition forente-ring Without chilling, 'the molten body. Also, it will he observedthat vapors passing to and uncondenscd through the condenser from thehydrocarboncracking temperature in 111e ymOlten-body-containin,archamber orl receptacle and ases accompanying said vapors, are not on yforced into the lower portion ot the moltenfbody 63 but heated, in theirpassage through the chamber '51 andpipes 55, to a temperaturesubstantially as high `as the meltingn peint ot the material composingliquid hydrocarbon forcedinto the inner chamber 29 is in the main stillliquid while passing from said chamber into the molten body 63 andascends externally of the balliefases and vapors trom the i I ody, sothat: said vapors and. gases are dis. aarged inv a desirably heatedvcondition into the molten body.' The heated.

.lasciasse ascent ot heated liquid hydrocatieof` from between saidbaille-plate 5G andlla ebaillemember-2T, and in a,'dctentiomdencerv'saidplate 5.6, ot' intimately associated i'tipors and gases .from thecondenser and gases andvapors issuing from said liquid hydro? carbon.bons under the battle-plate 56 are compelled to pass from under saidplate throughithe passages 5S and 59 in saidfplate into the molten massbetween said plate and the intermediate baille-plate Said'. inter.-niediate battle-platey is helpful in producing `and maintainiinrg anintimate association ot vapors aud'gas'es 'frein the condenser and gasesand vapors arisin from liquid hydro carbon in the moltenb y between saidplate and the lower baille-plate and in retard-v i'ng the ascent of saidliquid hydrocarbon from between said plates. Hydrocarbons between thebaille-plates 5G and (32 ascend to' and throughl the holes or passagesin the intermediate baflle-plate 62. The upper loafn fle-plate 6loperates substantially the same as the intermediate baiile-plate G2 and'is helpful in producing and maintaining an in 'tiinate associationothydrocarbons ascending toward said upper baffle-plate trom theintermediate baille-plate. Obviously the Substantially all of the`-liydlvo'cal.

baille lates 56, (il and 62 constitute means .i

where y is effected a battling, at different ,heights in the moltenbod-y and above all discharges ot hydrocarbons into the molten body', otascending hydrocarbons, because eachballie-plate is instrumental intempt l rarily obstructingmovement of ascending hydrocarbons in themolten body.. Hence by the battling means comprising Ythe battleplates56,561 and 62isinsuied a highly intimate and closeassociation ofhydrocarbons ,between adjacentballieplates and between thelowerballe-plateand the batlle-meinbei A27 while saidfhydrocarbons aresubjected to the heat of andwvithin the molten body. The hereinbeforedescribed process 'has been found highly elllcient jfor the economicalproduction of gasoline ot'betterl quality and in largerquantitylpermeasure of liquid hydrocarbon to be cracked, with no apvpreeiable loss of material, andA with little 'or noappreciableformation or'aecumulation ot carbon in any portion ot theapparatus. Furthermore, were an undesirable accumulationoi" carbon tooccur intrest-ing some hydrocarbons after operation of tbersystemcontinuously yfor many' days, said carbonwill be found ina finelydivided state'and mainly, it' not entirely, in the top Section 16 otthe,hydi'ocarbon-cracking receptacle;l The pi )e 25 can be employed asan outlet for car onl in case of an undesirable accumulation ot carbonin said section. 16. The base l5 of the hydrocarbon-cracking chamber isshown provided vwith a drain-pipe 65 through. which, upon openin a`normally closed valve 66 With which Said ipe iaprovided, the moltenmetal may e drained from said chamber. Obviously upon-stopping theoperation of the apparatus and removing the molten metal 63 through thepipe 65, only detachmentof the pipe 36 from the section 16, and therequired manipulation of the coupling 53 as required to separate thepipe-section 52 fronr-the remainder of the pipe 44, are required torender said section 16 free to be hoisted and removed, for cleaning orother purposes, upon detaching said section i6 from the tube 17. Also,only said manipulation of said coupling and detachment of the head22,are required to render sai d hea d and connected pipes 55 andbathe-plates 56, 61 and 62 free to be hoisted and removed.

. ing an external pressure medium into the system, is placed under apressure considerably greater than the pressure exerted at its base bysaid molten body perse, but more especially important to a remarkablvsuccessful carrying out of said Drocess is the baiiiing of ascendinghydrocarbons in said molten body, at different heights in the moltenbody, so as to insure such an extensive and thorough cracking ot gasesand vapors from the condenser, in such intimate receiver 39 of thehereinbetore described ap-` paratus is a remarkably clean-appearingandtranslucent liquid Which, with great facility and at a remarkably lowcost, is chemically treatable in ,any approved manner to produce a cleanand transparent high-grade gasoline especially' Well adapted. for use'as a hi hly economical uel for internal comv bustion engines ofmotor-vehicles and materially infiniitial inimproving the opera.

tion of such engines and in increasing the u mileage of such vehiclesper gallon of gasoy issuing from heated liqui hydrocarbon and` crackingof ncondensed vapors and gases from the aioresaid condenser mutuallyvintiuential progmity to ea within said molten body.

I would here remark that'a considerable portion of the vapors and gasespassing with other hydrocarbon, are simultaneur in' the condensate fromthe condenser into the A condensate-collecting chamber consists ofilluminalits -or unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds (CnHQn), that intreating fuel oil of from 32 to 34 Baume from ten to thirty er 4 cent ofthe vapors andl gases `passing into the condensate-collecting chamberfrom the condenser will be found to consist of i1-` luminants or,unsaturated compounds, and` that the subjection of gases and vaporswhich have passed from the condenser' into the condensate-collectingchamber to and Within a hydrocarbon-heating molten body and inassociation with the subjection of vapors and gases newly produced -fromliquid hydrocarbon heavier than gasoline to and -within said molten bodyresults'in the desiredproduction of saturated hydrocarbon compoundswithout resorting to a hydrogensupplyingr source external to thev liquidhydrocarbon to betreated.

production of high-grade gasoline from a. given quantity of liojuidhydrocarbon heavier than gasoline, are the passing lnot only ofthecondensate formed in the aforesaid condenser, but of all hydrocarbongases and vapors passing uncondensed through the condenser, into aclosedcondensate-collecting chamber having a vapor-outlet, and the subjectionof gases and uncondensed vaporsreceived by said chamber from saidcondenser to the heat of and within a molten body during the subjection,to the heat of land within said molten body of gases and vapors newlyproduced from liquid hydrocarbon. A

Highly satisfactory results havebeen obtaine by practising my improvedhydro- A Of importance, therefore, in order to obtain the maximumcarbon-treating process in the hereinbe'fore j described manner inaccordance with Whichit will be observed that, during maintenance, ontop of the molten body, ot apressure which, per square inch, is at leastand preterably considerably more than one hundred pounds greater thanthe pressure exerted at ts base by the molten body per se, occurs thesupplying ofaincondensed gases from the condenser intol the closed upperchambei' 5i above thI molten body while liquid hydrocarbon is forcedthrough the inner or lower chamber 29 at the lower portion of the moltenbody, and gases are ted 'from said upper chamber 5l into the lowerportion o' the molten body and discharged into the molten body at aheight above the discharge of 4 liquid' hydrocarbon into the moltenbody, so

carbon into a molten body through an in- -ner chamber 1n said moltenbody, and while hydrocarbon is discharged trom said inner chamber intosaid molten body'eftectinnl the subjection, toithe heat of andwithin'said molten bod ,ot hydrocarbon gases and vapors remainingiincondenscd during the subjection of the iirstmientioned vapors and,frases to the aforesaid condensing temperav, ture. .i

2. ln'thc art out cracking hydrocarbons, a

lprocess which comprises subjectingr to a con- (lensing1r temperaturehydrocarbon vapors and gases escaping from a hydrocarboncraclriincirchamber, feeding liquid hydrocarbon into a molten body through a cham-Vin ber formed at the lower portion of said molten body, and whileliquid hydrocarbon is passing from the last-i'nentioned chamber intosaid molten body eii'ecting the subjection, to the heat of and withinsaid molten body, ot .gases and vapors remainingl uncondenscd hiring theaforesaid subjecting oi the first-mentioned vapors and gases to a ycondensing; temperature.

. 3, l'n the art ot cracking hydrocarlions.` a process consisting` inforcingr liquid hydrocarbon hea-vier than gasoline into a molten bodypenctrable by hydrocarbons and heated to but not vaporizable at "therequired hydrocarbon-crackin@ temperature, and above the discharge otliquid hydrocarbon into said mblten'l'aody 'teediircr into the moltenbody hydrocarbon vapors and fases which have passed' uncondenscd.through a condenser menace after having; been subjected to saidteinperaturc, and above the discharge of gases and vapors trom thecondenser into said molten body temporarily obstructing movement ofihydrocarbons ascending in the molten body.

4t. ln the art of c -aching hydrocarbons, a process which comprisessiibjectine` to a conlensing temperature liydrocarbon vapors and gasesescaping from a hydrocarboncracking chamber, forcingr liquid hydrocarboniutoa molten body, and in said molten body temporarily*obstructing themovement of ascending hydrocarbons at aq* point over and spaced upwardlyfrom the discharge ot said liquid hydrocarbon into said molten body, andeiiectinp; the discharge, into said molten body and below said point, ofgases and vapors remaining` uncondensed during' the aforesaid subjectingof the first-mentioned vapors andgases to a condensing temperature,

5. In the art ot cracking hydrocarbons, a process which comprisessubjecting to a con` (lensing temperature hydrocarbon. vapors and easespassing out of a hydrocarboncracking chamber, feeding liquid hydrocarboninto a molten body'through a cha 1nber Jformed within the lower portionof and heated by heat transmitted from said molten body, and at a pointspaced upwardly, from the last-mentioned chamber temporarilyobstructing' movement ot hydrocarbons ascending' ,iai said molten body,and below said point' feeding into said molten body gases' and vaporsremaining iiiicondenscd during the aforesaid subjecting of the mentionedvapors and lcases to a condensing temperature.

G. n the art of treatinghydrocarbons, a process consisting' insubjecting toa condensing temperature hydrocarbon vapors and gases whichhave been subjected to a hydrocarbori-crackini` temperature, `feedingother hydrociii'l'ion into a molten' body through a chamber at the lowerportion of said molten bod i, and while hydrocarbon is beinei ted intosaid molten body trom said chamber tending hydrocarliion gases., whichhave been subjected to and remained uncondenscd at the aforesaidcondensing temperature. into aclosed chamber above said molten body` andconductingr eases trom the lastincntioncd chamber into the molten body.

7. in the art oi treating' hydrocarbons, a process consisting insubjecting1 to ai con- (lensingtemperature vapors and gases which havebeen subjected to a hydrocarbon# cracking, temperature, forcing' liquidhydro-v carbon heavier than `ejasoliiie into the lower portion ot amolten body, and while liquid hydrocarbon is beingr 'Fori-ed into saidmolten body feeding; hydrocarbon gases, which have ccted to and remainediinpondenseoi been siibj l at the aforesaid condensing temperature, 1n-

into the molten body at a heightabove the'f discharge of the aforesaidliquid hydrocarbon into the molten body.

8. In the art of treating hydrocarbons, a process consisting', insubjecting' to a con- (lensing temperature hydrocarbon vapore and gaseswhich harp been subjected to aV hydrocarbon-craclting teunperature,forcing other hydrocarbon into a molten body through a chamber at thelower portion o1 the molten body,:md while hydrocarbon is being forcedinto said snollen body from said chamber forcing hydrovarbon gases,which have been subjected to and remained uncondensed at thel aforesaidcondenslng temperature, into a closed chamber above said Inol ten body,and feeding; gases from the last* mentioned chamber into the lowerportion of the molten body.

9. In the art of treating hydrocarbons, 'a-

process consisting in effecting the development, on top of a molten bodycontained in a hydrocarbon-cracking receptacle, of a pressure which, persquare inch, is at least one hundred pounds greater than the pressureexerted at its base by said molten body'per se and subjectinghydrocarbon vapors and gases to acondensing temperature in a condensera't'ter having been subjected to a hydrocarboncrackin,r temperature,Asubjectin gases' remaining uncondensed upon the su jeetion of thefirst-mentioned vapors and gasesyto said condensing; temperature, and

also gases and vapors newly produced from liquid hydrocarbon heavierthan gasoline, simultaneously to the heat of and within the aforesaidmolten body, and during thevsubjection of hydrocarbons to the heat ofiand within said molten body maintaining on said molten body a pressurewhich, per square inch`v is at least one hundred poundsgrcater i thanthe pressure exerted at its base by the molten body per se.

10. In the art of treating hydrocarbons, a process consistingr ineffecting the development, on top .ot a molten body contained in aliydrocarbon-crackine receptacle, of a pressure which, per square inch,is considerably more thanl a hundred pounds greater than the pressureexerted at its base by said molten'body per se and subjectinghydrocarbon vapors andvgases toa condensing temperature after havingbeen subjected-to a hydrocarbon-tracking temfrature, subjectinghydrocarbons remaining uncondensed during thesubjection of thefirst-mentionedl vapors and gases to said condensing' ten'iperature, andgases and vapors newly produced from liquid hydrocarbon heavier thangasoline, sin'iultaneously to the heat of and within the aforesaidmolten body, and during,` the-sub# jection of hydrocarbons to the heatof and within said molten body maintaining on said molten body apressure which, per square 'FRED GQNIECE.

